2014 Extreme Weather Thread

[SirFozzie]

After a superwild 2013 (where Worcester actually beat out the usual suspects in the Buffalo area for most snow), it looks like 2014 is going to start out under the same idea.

Apparently the northeast is in line to get clobbered by "Winter Storm Hercules".. All of MA is expected to get 12-18" as two storms (one with three low pressure systems) combine just offshore and just absolutely cover the Northeast with snow.

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-hercules-forecast-20131231

[Chief Rum]

Might fall below 50 tonight. Better wear hoodie. :D

In all seriousness, take care out there, Cold Coasters.

[SirFozzie]

Might fall below 50 tonight. Better wear hoodie. :D



Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatteee You...

(Oh, and as tradition demands... "AH HATE WINTER")

[MrBug708]

It was shorts weather today as it was in the mid-70's!

[JPhillips]

NWS is throwing out the B word for NYC and the area. Should be fun.

At least we have a generator.

[SirFozzie]

It was shorts weather today as it was in the mid-70's!

Double Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttteeee Youuuuuu.....

[panerd]

I had shorts on with a jacket doing yardwork this afternoon. Supposed to have 3-5 inches of snow tonight. As a teacher I say bring on the snow!

[MizzouRah]

Yeah.. we are expecting 4-5 inches and I'm supposed to go into work around midnight... fun times!

[Thomkal]

NWS is throwing out the B word for NYC and the area. Should be fun.

At least we have a generator.

Welcome to office, new Mr. NYC mayor!

[hoopsguy]

Eh, had about eight inches of snow today but really more worried about next Monday when our daughter will be greeted by highs of -4 (low of -20) on her return to school. That seems more severe to me ... if it is this cold here, I suspect Minnesota and other more northern territories are really going to be punished.

[fantom1979]

Weather channel currently predicting a high temperature of 6F for Jan 7th in the Detroit Area. I am no expert, but I am pretty sure that is cold enough to freeze a T-1000 terminator. So at least we have that going for us.

[tarcone]

8 is the high for St. Louis on Monday. I guess I didnt move far enough south when I moved here from Iowa.

[Fidatelo]

Winnipeg just had the 2nd coldest December since the late 19th century. Yesterday it was colder here than the North Pole. And Mars.

Winnipeg deep freeze as cold as uninhabited planet - Manitoba - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-deep-freeze-as-cold-as-uninhabited-planet-1.2479967)

I hate this fucking place.

[MizzouRah]

8 is the high for St. Louis on Monday. I guess I didnt move far enough south when I moved here from Iowa.

Haha.. I know, that is freaking too cold for me!

[Izulde]

11 more days until I'm back in comparative warmth.

[Alan T]

Winnipeg just had the 2nd coldest December since the late 19th century. Yesterday it was colder here than the North Pole. And Mars.

Winnipeg deep freeze as cold as uninhabited planet - Manitoba - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-deep-freeze-as-cold-as-uninhabited-planet-1.2479967)

I hate this fucking place.


As cold as Mars.. hah.. I think that would be enough to convince me to move :)

[Autumn]

Looks like two snow days just when the kids were heading back to school.

[claphamsa]

were supposed to have rain all day and night.. the it will freeze around 3 am tonight, and the high tomorrow is 22.

as I tell everyone around here, its not the weather, its the southerners trying to drive in the weather....

[flere-imsaho]

RWD BMW goes by me on the highway this morning (I'm in Portland, ME), my 2.5 year old says "Daddy, that car goes too fast", moments later we're passing him as he's ended up in the ditch. Karma.

[Lathum]

Just saw the low for here on Monday is -8. High on Tuesday is 6 and low of 5. Insane.

[mckerney]

Just saw the low for here on Monday is -8. High on Tuesday is 6 and low of 5. Insane.

That actually sounds pretty nice, the high in Minneapolis Sunday is expected to be -13.

[Warhammer]

Yesterday, check the weather, chance of snow, .2" of accumulation.

Check it before bed, winter weather advisory, 2" of snow expected.

Check it this AM, winter storm warning, 2-4" of snow expected.

Check it 15 mins ago after running to the store and returning to pick up some paperwork prior to heading to the office, 3-5" of snow expected.

I get changing things, but can't we seriously pick something and stick with it?

[sterlingice]

Snow prediction is really hard. The rule of thumb is 10" of snow to 1" of rain but that's pretty variable. If the weatherman predicted .25" of rain and you got .5", would you even notice? However, that can be the difference between as much as 1"-6" of snow, which, yeah, everyone would notice.

SI

[Logan]

Snow prediction is really hard. The rule of thumb is 10" of snow to 1" of rain but that's pretty variable. If the weatherman predicted .25" of rain and you got .5", would you even notice? However, that can be the difference between as much as 1"-6" of snow, which, yeah, everyone would notice.

SI

I also read that this storm (at least when it hits the NJ/NY area) could be giving off ratios closer to 15 or 20:1.

On the forecast stuff, it obviously gets much more reliable the closer you get to the event, so it's not surprising to see some sources that are more hesitant to make calls until you get about 48 hours out. So that's why you see a lot of hedging.

Just depends on who you want to trust. I use weather.gov (never .com) and surprisingly the best updates I get come from a few guys who post on the Rutgers Rivals message board.

[panerd]

Yesterday, check the weather, chance of snow, .2" of accumulation.

Check it before bed, winter weather advisory, 2" of snow expected.

Check it this AM, winter storm warning, 2-4" of snow expected.

Check it 15 mins ago after running to the store and returning to pick up some paperwork prior to heading to the office, 3-5" of snow expected.

I get changing things, but can't we seriously pick something and stick with it?

Our weather people are the same way but never on the low side. They would start with 5" and go down to 0.5". I think they enoy shutting the city down. Last year the Blues cancelled a game based on their predictions and it didn't even snow.

[NobodyHere]

Sooner or later the Starks are always right.

[flere-imsaho]

Yeah, within the last 24 hours the forecast for Portland, Maine, went from "meh, a few inches" to "Snow days for everyone!!!oneone!!!"

[gstelmack]

My favorite remains the big storm here in January 2000, where Greg Fischel was on saying the snow would stop "any minute now" while HUGE flakes were continuing to fall. He didn't leave his "trace amounts" forecast till we had like 3 inches on the ground, and we ended up over 20.

I get that it's hard to predict, especially here where we are on the freezing line, where being off half a degree in temperature either way is the difference between rain, freezing rain, sleet, or snow, but occasionally you'd like your meteorologist to stop looking at his computer models and look out the window...

[MacroGuru]

In the past 6 years I have lived in Buffalo, I haven't really had to experience a winter here as I traveled. The past 2 years winters were "meh" I had worse in Utah.

This year it's different and cold as hell, which Utah was never like. So I guess I am finally getting welcomed to a Buffalo winter.

[Lathum]

-10 here on Monday, that is just plain insanity.

[JAG]

That actually sounds pretty nice, the high in Minneapolis Sunday is expected to be -13.

Low of -26 (not counting wind chill). At least I got some new gloves over the holidays.

[mckerney]

Low of -26 (not counting wind chill). At least I got some new gloves over the holidays.

I bought a couple new blankets as soon as I saw that forecast. Don't plan on going outside, or getting out of bed for that matter.

[boberot]

In the past 6 years I have lived in Buffalo, I haven't really had to experience a winter here as I traveled. The past 2 years winters were "meh" I had worse in Utah.

This year it's different and cold as hell, which Utah was never like. So I guess I am finally getting welcomed to a Buffalo winter.

I hate to tell you, but this is much more typical. Last few winters have been a relative cakewalk.

[FrogMan]

Winnipeg just had the 2nd coldest December since the late 19th century. Yesterday it was colder here than the North Pole. And Mars.

Winnipeg deep freeze as cold as uninhabited planet - Manitoba - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-deep-freeze-as-cold-as-uninhabited-planet-1.2479967)

I hate this fucking place.

yah, we got hit with that kind of cold this morning, -32C or -26F WITHOUT windchill, with windchill around -40F...

Picture is from my car's dash thermometer this morning...

FM

[MacroGuru]

I hate to tell you, but this is much more typical. Last few winters have been a relative cakewalk.

Yeah I figured as much. The cold is the only difference than Utah in the winter. I am used to the snow from there. It's just traveling like I have for work, I always spent the winters in southern states so I realized this year I haven't experienced a true winter in over 10 years.

[SirFozzie]

Looks like Boston already has 10.6 inches of snow, and there's still 5-6 hours of the worst snow. We're better off further inland, but we might get 10-12 inches before it's over.

[BishopMVP]

Looks like Boston already has 10.6 inches of snow, and there's still 5-6 hours of the worst snow. We're better off further inland, but we might get 10-12 inches before it's over.With a low of -5 degrees... then we'll be back to 40 degrees and raining on Sunday/Monday, before it drops down to a high of 8 degrees Tuesday. Like they say - if you don't like the weather in New England, just wait 24 hours.Winnipeg just had the 2nd coldest December since the late 19th century. Yesterday it was colder here than the North Pole. And Mars.

Winnipeg deep freeze as cold as uninhabited planet - Manitoba - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-deep-freeze-as-cold-as-uninhabited-planet-1.2479967)

I hate this fucking place.I get that it has a really cool history, looks beautiful, and is amazing in the summer, but I can't imagine why close to a million people actively choose to live there in the 21st century. Temperatures that cold are insane.

[Alan T]

Looks like Boston already has 10.6 inches of snow, and there's still 5-6 hours of the worst snow. We're better off further inland, but we might get 10-12 inches before it's over.


You all got a whole lot more snow than we did in central mass. I don't think we'll even get up to 10 inches.. but man it is cold and windy.

[claphamsa]

we have 3 inches of ice on everything. the snow was super wet and cold and now its frozen. glad I still have power (and all my trees)

[Kodos]

Maybe 6 inches of snow here, and in the single digits. But very manageable.

[DaddyTorgo]

You all got a whole lot more snow than we did in central mass. I don't think we'll even get up to 10 inches.. but man it is cold and windy.

I didn't even see that much in Framingham/Natick/Wellesley.

Bitter freaking cold, but the snow is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Sitting on the commuter rail headed into Back Bay for a meeting, then back out on an afternoon train, then driving into the city tonight for a date. Snow hasn't impacted anything at all.

In fact - largely because the roads were virtually empty, my commute today was probably quicker/just as quick as on a normal day.

[JPhillips]

Maybe 6 inches of snow here, and in the single digits. But very manageable.

Pretty much what I have. The snow is so light it's very easy to move.

[DaddyTorgo]

I get that it has a really cool history, looks beautiful, and is amazing in the summer, but I can't imagine why close to a million people actively choose to live there in the 21st century. Temperatures that cold are insane.

This. What's the major draw that keeps that many people there?

[claphamsa]

This. What's the major draw that keeps that many people there?

same reason people live places like boston and maine. its home.

[DaddyTorgo]

same reason people live places like boston and maine. its home.

Well sure now, but I mean...historically-speaking. Post-Industrialization, what has kept people there in those numbers?

I can even understand back in the early-mid 19th century, say fur-trapping, early industry (logging or whatever), but I guess my question is more like how did the city retain enough attractiveness to outsiders to develop a 21st century industry and continue to attract new residents versus just like...shrinking slowly?

[lungs]

-20 this morning and I need to artificially inseminate 5 cows this morning, which requires me to not wear a jacket. It's not that bad!

[DaddyTorgo]

-20 this morning and I need to artificially inseminate 5 cows this morning, which requires me to not wear a jacket. It's not that bad!

Nutters.

The show must go on though!!

[Kodos]

-20 this morning and I need to artificially inseminate 5 cows this morning, which requires me to not wear a jacket. It's not that bad!

At the very least, it means you shouldn't wear your best jacket. ;)

[lungs]

Working outdoors in weather like this isn't so bad. You learn to dress for it. Nice thing about cold is that you can always put more on. I probably walked around in this without a jacket for about 30 minutes but I did have Carhartt overalls and insulated boots on. Seems like cold works it's way up the body (for me anyway). Once my feet get cold I'm fucked. Moving around helps too.

The biggest headache is keeping the dumbass cows from shitting in their own water tanks. Then nobody will drink out of them and the pipes freeze up.

[claphamsa]

The biggest headache is keeping the dumbass cows from shitting in their own water tanks. Then nobody will drink out of them and the pipes freeze up.

lol!

[claphamsa]

I gotta say, when i was 15 or 16 I went through a Cleveland winter without ever wearing shoes (I was very stupid), so now I have no temp feeling in my feet. I was out last night in flip flops scraping off cars in my neighborhood, and was fine.

[BishopMVP]

Pretty much what I have. The snow is so light it's very easy to move.Pretty much this up here too (maybe it was wetter along the Cape/coast). As bad as the amounts sounded, there's no tree/power line damage, and shoveling was ridiculously easy.same reason people live places like boston and maine. its home.I'm not intending to single the place out - I say the same about most cold US cities, but there's a difference between annoying cold/weather you can work around and cold that could literally kill you in less than an hour, and sticks around for weeks at a time.

(Fwiw, I learned more about Winnipeg in the last 12 hours than I knew before, so that's nice. I'm not saying I figured it'd be like Buffalo or Detroit where they've lost over half the population and the economy collapsed, (fwiw, it does look like the tripartite revitalization of downtown worked and there's probably something in that American politicians could take to heart) but I didn't figure on Winnipeg actually having a growing population. I figured it'd be at least like Springfield, St. Paul, Hartford that are all slowly losing population as people slowly shift south and west - By the Grid: Population Shift to the West and South (http://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/024/) )

[claphamsa]

Pretty much this up here too (maybe it was wetter along the Cape/coast). As bad as the amounts sounded, there's no tree/power line damage, and shoveling was ridiculously easy.I'm not intending to single the place out - I say the same about most cold US cities, but there's a difference between annoying cold/weather you can work around and cold that could literally kill you in less than an hour, and sticks around for weeks at a time.

(Fwiw, I learned more about Winnipeg in the last 12 hours than I knew before, so that's nice. I'm not saying I figured it'd be like Buffalo or Detroit where they've lost over half the population and the economy collapsed, (fwiw, it does look like the tripartite revitalization of downtown worked and there's probably something in that American politicians could take to heart) but I didn't figure on Winnipeg actually having a growing population. I figured it'd be at least like Springfield, St. Paul, Hartford that are all slowly losing population as people slowly shift south and west - By the Grid: Population Shift to the West and South (http://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/024/) )
completely agree! I was just reading on facebook about my SILs Sister, who is having to evacuate her home in Marshfield MA due to the weather (storm tide?) its not just places like Winipeg! (and we can have the same posts in July when hurricanes hit FLA)

[BishopMVP]

completely agree! I was just reading on facebook about my SILs Sister, who is having to evacuate her home in Marshfield MA due to the weather (storm tide?) its not just places like Winipeg! (and we can have the same posts in July when hurricanes hit FLA)All the coastal tide stuff I've seen so far is just as a precautionary measure. Generally the only homes in real danger anyways are the ones that have been or should have been condemned/abandoned years ago - (http://www.wcvb.com/weather/Second-Plum-Island-house-falls-into-ocean-others-total-losses/-/9850416/19205134/-/oy43x3z/-/index.html)and I have no sympathy for those people (that's not from this storm fyi, just the same group of homes they always keep a vigil at hoping to show one fall over). But again, that's the large difference here - a nor'easter or a hurricane is an inconveniencing event you work around for a couple days, or in the case of Katrina and whatever that NYC-area storm surge hurricane was called, a once in a century storm that can't really be planned around (unless you want to argue that you should never build/buy a home on a flood plain, which I kind of agree with). This might be an unusually cold winter for Winnipeg, but its location at the edge of the Canadian Prairie basically assures that there will be weeks of below 0 degree F temperatures every winter.

I mean, I love to make fun of people in southern cities who throw winter coats on when it's 50 out as much as the next person, but there's a difference between 15F degrees which isn't fun, but bearable, and a point down below like -10F where it really does get to be dangerous for people to be outside.

[tarcone]

Just saw on the news that a possible 12 inches of snow coming Saturday night into Sunday.

[JAG]

I bought a couple new blankets as soon as I saw that forecast. Don't plan on going outside, or getting out of bed for that matter.

Now Dayton has ordered all public K-12 schools in MN closed Monday. Wife already staked a claim to stay home with the kids.

[claphamsa]

All the coastal tide stuff I've seen so far is just as a precautionary measure. Generally the only homes in real danger anyways are the ones that have been or should have been condemned/abandoned years ago - (http://www.wcvb.com/weather/Second-Plum-Island-house-falls-into-ocean-others-total-losses/-/9850416/19205134/-/oy43x3z/-/index.html)and I have no sympathy for those people (that's not from this storm fyi, just the same group of homes they always keep a vigil at hoping to show one fall over). But again, that's the large difference here - a nor'easter or a hurricane is an inconveniencing event you work around for a couple days, or in the case of Katrina and whatever that NYC-area storm surge hurricane was called, a once in a century storm that can't really be planned around (unless you want to argue that you should never build/buy a home on a flood plain, which I kind of agree with). This might be an unusually cold winter for Winnipeg, but its location at the edge of the Canadian Prairie basically assures that there will be weeks of below 0 degree F temperatures every winter.

I mean, I love to make fun of people in southern cities who throw winter coats on when it's 50 out as much as the next person, but there's a difference between 15F degrees which isn't fun, but bearable, and a point down below like -10F where it really does get to be dangerous for people to be outside.
shes posted a number of videos... looks like the water in some streets at about waist high, with ice chunks floating around. they are with my brother in southy now, where there is just snow.

[Coffee Warlord]

HIGH of -15 monday, wind chills up to -50, and Chicago Public Schools are remaining open. Asinine.

My wife's district has not closed yet either, which is just insane.

[PurdueBrad]

HIGH of -15 monday, wind chills up to -50, and Chicago Public Schools are remaining open. Asinine.

My wife's district has not closed yet either, which is just insane.

Yeah CW, my wife and I work in a district together and we're both amazed that common sense hasn't won out yet to call Monday simply to give folks time to develop a plan.

As for CPS, that's the dumbest thing I've heard to say that they'll stay open. I know the reasoning is that low income parents may not have the options but to get to and from the school for those kids is just as, if not more dangerous.

[BillJasper]

I already decided to keep my boys home on Monday and possibly Tuesday. One has to walk six blocks and the other a mile-and-a-half. Wind chills of -25 to -35.

[Coffee Warlord]

Yay. Wife's district closed.

[BillJasper]

Went to Kroger this morning and you'd think it was the damned apocalypse coming. :lol:

[Lathum]

Went to Kroger this morning and you'd think it was the damned apocalypse coming. :lol:

yeah, I went yesterday and it was nutso

[tarcone]

10 inches of snow. The wind is picking up. Temps are dropping.
I just got done shoveling. It was worse then I thought it would be. For light, fluffy snow, it was pretty heavy. :)

Now Im hunkering down. Games and Netflix and football.

[Izulde]

Yeah I went to the grocery store yesterday and it was like a major ice storm was on the way, not a couple days of cold.

[Lathum]

Pouring rain right now and then it is supposed to dip to below freezing starting around midnight. Going to be a pain to get to work tomorrow.

[lungs]

Tomorrow will be interesting. This will be about as cold as I've seen it.

[Coffee Warlord]

Chicago decided to close schools after all. Heh.

I'd really like it if they freakin' plowed us out. I want desert. :)

[Fidatelo]

Pretty much this up here too (maybe it was wetter along the Cape/coast). As bad as the amounts sounded, there's no tree/power line damage, and shoveling was ridiculously easy.I'm not intending to single the place out - I say the same about most cold US cities, but there's a difference between annoying cold/weather you can work around and cold that could literally kill you in less than an hour, and sticks around for weeks at a time.

(Fwiw, I learned more about Winnipeg in the last 12 hours than I knew before, so that's nice. I'm not saying I figured it'd be like Buffalo or Detroit where they've lost over half the population and the economy collapsed, (fwiw, it does look like the tripartite revitalization of downtown worked and there's probably something in that American politicians could take to heart) but I didn't figure on Winnipeg actually having a growing population. I figured it'd be at least like Springfield, St. Paul, Hartford that are all slowly losing population as people slowly shift south and west - By the Grid: Population Shift to the West and South (http://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/024/) )

I missed a bunch of these posts over the past couple days so I'll just kind of respond to a bunch of things here.

In terms of why people stay living in a place like Winnipeg, I think it is highly related to family/friends like anywhere else, but there are other factors.

- Cost of living is a big thing, as Winnipeg has historically been a very cheap place to live. Our housing prices have risen dramatically in recent years but I think we still pay less of a percentage of salary towards housing than any of the other major Canadian cities.

- Historically a blue-collar city, Winnipeggers are notoriously cheap. Moving is expensive.

- Winnipeg is geographically isolated, which I think has led to a very stay-at-home mentality. Seriously, we're 6+ hours away (by car) from any other remotely major city. While moving to some other city 2 or 3 hours away wouldn't really change the weather, it would likely foster a bit more of a culture that is open to movement or change. When someone moves away from Winnipeg you basically never see them again (ok that's a stretch, but it's not that far off). I always picture American families having relatives and friends that live in cities that aren't that far away, so they see them reasonably frequently (lets say a handful of times a year). I feel like this would make moving both less daunting and also just more natural.

- Winnipeg has a fairly diverse and stable economy. We don't really have any one industry that drives the city, which helps to avoid economic issues when things don't go well in a given sector. It also means we don't ever really boom either. Basically the economy just sort of mildly trends up or down, providing a nice safe place to live an Average Joe life.

Now with all of that said, as far as I understand it (and keep in mind I'm no civics major) our city loses population to the rest of Canada every year, I think to the tune of close to 10,000 people or so. Winnipeg grows mostly from people within the province moving into the city (largely aboriginals moving off our hellish reserves and into the inner city) and from heavy recruitment of immigrants.

I think what perplexes me more than why the city continues to exist is why it ever existed in the first place. I can understand why pilgrims would wander through here in July and decide to set up camp. It's quite nice in the summer. But by mid-January I'd think they'd all have been drawing up plans to get the fuck out of dodge at the first signs of spring. Seriously can you imagine -30 without furnaces and cars and Gortex?! Jesus H Christ no thank you.

[cartman]

No precipitation, but it is going to be a cold as I remember it being in a long time. Low of 20 with a wind chill near 0. I know that isn't as brutally cold as other places in the country, but that is a big reason I don't live in those places. :D

[BillJasper]

Just got the call that my boys' schools are both closed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm seeing -30 wind chill forecasts for Tuesday for the northern third of Georgia.

That's just ... ridiculous.

[fantom1979]

In Georgia???? My parents in Cary, NC said that they were expecting weather in the teens and wind chill around zero. It is freaking cold for us in the north and we are somewhat used to cold weather. I can't imagine being in the Carolinas or farther south and dealing with this. I just can't imagine many people down there being prepared.

[Radii]

In Georgia???? My parents in Cary, NC said that they were expecting weather in the teens and wind chill around zero. It is freaking cold for us in the north and we are somewhat used to cold weather. I can't imagine being in the Carolinas or farther south and dealing with this. I just can't imagine many people down there being prepared.

I'm in Wake Forest, about 30 miles from Cary. Its 55 right now, supposed to get down to 12 tomorrow night, 23 the next day and then back into the mid 40s the day after. 0% chance of precipitation for any of it. Most people down here shouldn't see that as a big deal. Some elderly/poor in crappy homes or with poor heating need to be extra careful, but that should be the extent of it.

To me, freezing rain *is* a big deal, because we aren't equipped to deal with icy roads at all, and many people don't have experience driving on it, but without icy roads during a few rush hours, this is no problem.

[JonInMiddleGA]

In Georgia????

Yep, it's kinda nuts. I'm to the east of the worst of it as you can see from the map but that little county that looks sorta like Nebraska that's east of Calhoun/west of Gainesville? That's where I grew up/where my folks live.

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/397/img/photos/2014/01/05/68/3a/Wiind_chill_1.jpg

[Suicane75]

6 inches of snow Thu/Fri, up to 50 right now. Showers moving in this morning and then temps drop down to single digits tonight and tomorrow. My yard is gonna look like it was made out of crystal.

[britrock88]

Supposed to fly back from NC to ND tomorrow. Wondering how things'll go and what ND will be like when I get there... closings for businesses? Still hovering around a -60 windchill? Freezing rain wreck-traps?

[Solecismic]

We shoveled about 13 inches in two rounds this afternoon/evening. Now the temperature is dropping, it's still snowing, and 30-mph wind gusts are moving the snow we did shovel back onto the driveway. They're saying about 17 total for this area, which would put it amongst the top storms ever in this part of Michigan. Now having lived in New Hampshire, I enjoyed the occasional nor'easter, which can make 17 look average. But we never had this kind of snow followed by this kind of cold.

So, we get to shovel in -20 wind chill tomorrow afternoon. Highs of -1 to 3 on Tuesday, with wind chills closing in on -40, so we had better get the driveway clear tomorrow or no one is getting out.

[flere-imsaho]

Freezing rain, sleet & rain overnight (Maine). This, plus the layer of snow that was already on the roads means my driveway was a perfectly smooth sheet of ice when I went out this morning to walk (I mean "slide") the dog this morning.

At least he has claws.

[Warhammer]

I called one of my accts this morning to see how the roads were before I headed his direction, he said he saw at least 3 cars off the road on his way into work. Keep in mind, he lives 1/2 mile away from where he works...

[Lathum]

I called one of my accts this morning to see how the roads were before I headed his direction, he said he saw at least 3 cars off the road on his way into work. Keep in mind, he lives 1/2 mile away from where he works...

I came in around 6:30 and it wasnt bad at all. Cold as hell but roads ok.

[JPhillips]

We're looking at a 49 degree swing today, from projected high of 53 to projected low of 4.

[Butter]

Still glad it's not going to get quite as cold as they thought here. They were calling for -15 or worse a couple of days ago for today into tomorrow. As it is, sounds like -5 today dropping to about -10 tonight and recovering back barely into positive double digits by Tuesday afternoon. One day of this isn't so bad.

[Warhammer]

I came in around 6:30 and it wasnt bad at all. Cold as hell but roads ok.

This guy is north of Greenville, so he is out in the boonies. Have to take a number of backroads to get to him.

[miked]

After all the terrible forecasts and local Kroger/Publix cleaned of all bread and milk (yes, apparently that's what people stock up on), there was not a drop of rain anywhere near me and some light flurries about 15 minutes ago. Yay for Atlanta craziness!

[Matthean]

I waited a day and had no issue getting stuff at the store. Al Gore could still send some global warming my way.

[nilodor]

HIGH of -15 monday, wind chills up to -50, and Chicago Public Schools are remaining open. Asinine.

My wife's district has not closed yet either, which is just insane.

I didn't realize that was that out of the ordinary for Chicago. I would have thought that most people would be prepared for temperatures in that range. FWIW I can't ever think of a time that our schools have closed (outside of getting like a half a meter of snow). I totally get shutting them down in places like Kentucky and Georgia where people aren't prepared for temperatures well below freezing.

[DaddyTorgo]

Generally down here in the Lower 48 it doesn't get into the minuses. Certainly not into the double-digit minuses. And -50 with wind...double yikes!

[Butter]

You can't have kids standing out waiting for the bus for potentially 10+ minutes in -40 wind chill.

[lungs]

Pretty happy with the lack of problems thus far. -50 with wind chill but all the animals have water, the calves outside seem to be handling it and I'm about to fry up a pound of bacon in my house that is 74 degrees since I heat with wood.

[Buccaneer]

I waited a day and had no issue getting stuff at the store. Al Gore could still send some global warming my way.

Its only global warming if the jet stream is up in Canada; if it dips way south, it's called climate change. :)

Stay safe everyone.

[JPhillips]

Pretty happy with the lack of problems thus far. -50 with wind chill but all the animals have water, the calves outside seem to be handling it and I'm about to fry up a pound of bacon in my house that is 74 degrees since I heat with wood.

If it gets too cold you can always stick your arms up the asses of the cows.

[PurdueBrad]

So it's -17 here and a windchill of -46...This sucks!

[claphamsa]

temp has dropped 6 degrees since i started working at 830 am.

[Blackadar]

If it gets too cold you can always stick your arms up the asses of the cows.

I prefer to crawl into a nice, cozy Tauntaun.

[flere-imsaho]

We had snow days last Thursday & Friday in Portland, Maine.

And I learned why Portland, a city in a state that can handle snow, can have a good amount of snow days - unlike most other towns in the state, a lot of Portland kids walk to school, even in the winter. So basically if the city hasn't had time to plow the sidewalks, school gets closed, even if the driving conditions are just fine.

[Thomkal]

The cold will even reach the beach here in South Carolina. Of course nothing like you guys are getting/will be getting up north, but overnight it will be in the teens here with lots of wind, and a high of 34 tomorrow, low in the teens again. I'm from upstate NY so I've seen my share of cold days, but down here this is damn cold. Of course by the weekend it could be in the 70's :)

Speaking of upstate NY, I just saw on the Weather Channel, that it was 4 degrees yesterday at 7 am near my hometown in Poughkeepsie...today at 7 am it was 54 degrees. I've noticed this fall/winter more than ever down here several days of rapid temperature change-30 degrees or more from one day to the next. It's been a crazy season of weather. Maybe its a sign of the apocalypse? :)

Stay warm and safe all my northern friends here affected by this

[FrogMan]

it's currently 37F here (Quebec City) and raining pretty hard. Temps should go down all the way to 5F overnight. Gonna be a lot of fun tomorrow morning...

FM

[lungs]

If it gets too cold you can always stick your arms up the asses of the cows.

When I talked about artificially inseminating in -20 on the previous page, that's exactly what I was doing :)

[nol]

Confirming reports of extremely pleasant weather in Los Angeles, with highs expected to reach the mid 70s.

Sending my thoughts to everyone dealing with the winter storms; stay safe!

[DaddyTorgo]

When I talked about artificially inseminating in -20 on the previous page, that's exactly what I was doing :)

Pretty sure that was his point ;)

[flere-imsaho]

I always feel a lot better about my job when lungs posts about his.

[JPhillips]

When I talked about artificially inseminating in -20 on the previous page, that's exactly what I was doing :)

And you can get away with that. When any of the rest of us warm up by shoving our arm up a cow society see that as weird.

[flere-imsaho]

TMI, JPhillips, TMI.

[sterlingice]

Our weather this week is silly with the next day's low greater than the previous high: 39/27 -> 48/39 -> 59/55 -> 70/59

SI

[Thomkal]

54 in Boston right now, 19 in Buffalo, 10 in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile its warmer in Anchorage than Atlanta right now. Just crazy

[MacroGuru]

I am pretty sure the movie Day After Tomorrow has covered what we are about to experience...:D

http://www.enterprisemission.com/_articles/05-14-2004_Interplanetary_Part_1/DayAfter-b.jpg

[Alan T]

Our weather this week is silly with the next day's low greater than the previous high: 39/27 -> 48/39 -> 59/55 -> 70/59

SI

54 in Boston right now, 19 in Buffalo, 10 in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile its warmer in Anchorage than Atlanta right now. Just crazy


Our weather in Massachusetts is quite fun this week too. 8/-3 -> 22/-3 -> 34/18 -> 56/10 (today) -> 14/7 (tommorrow.

I went for a 6 mile run at lunch today in shorts and a t-shirt with the temperature in the mid-50s. It currently is snowing outside right now 3 hours later. Will be 7 degrees tomorrow less than 24 hours later.

Love the 50 degree shifts in 24 hours :)

[claphamsa]

JetBlue suspends operations at NY, Boston airports - News Local Massachusetts - Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/01/06/jetblue-suspends-operations-boston-airports/LC92gIV6qauVGTF5mFacNO/story.html)

thats fucked up, i would want to spend 2 days in any airport!

[Thomkal]

Our weather in Massachusetts is quite fun this week too. 8/-3 -> 22/-3 -> 34/18 -> 56/10 (today) -> 14/7 (tommorrow.

I went for a 6 mile run at lunch today in shorts and a t-shirt with the temperature in the mid-50s. It currently is snowing outside right now 3 hours later. Will be 7 degrees tomorrow less than 24 hours later.

Love the 50 degree shifts in 24 hours :)

That's wild Alan

[JonInMiddleGA]

Pretty much all the school systems surrounding me have announced closure for tomorrow. It's not the ice/snow/etc (we got virtually none), it's the windchill. (-10 to -30).

I've seen some folks actually complaining but it's exactly the sort of common sense I was hoping for (and was surprised to get).

[MizzouRah]

Yep Jon.. our schools are closed tomorrow too.

Now if only after hours sites were closed I wouldn't have to work at 11PM tonight.. ;)

[bob]

Pretty much all the school systems surrounding me have announced closure for tomorrow. It's not the ice/snow/etc (we got virtually none), it's the windchill. (-10 to -30).

I've seen some folks actually complaining but it's exactly the sort of common sense I was hoping for (and was surprised to get).

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

[claphamsa]

the 2 largest districts in the area have confirmed that they will be open.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

In our case the bus stop had nothing to do with it: it was the changing classes (think small college styled campus layout)

Likewise at least one of the county systems adjacent to us, where one HS is laid out on what is basically a quad-style while the other has I-dunno-how-many buildings sprawled across campus.

Then put those kind of things on top of the bus stop situations, it's simply not worth whatever risk there might be.

[MacroGuru]

First Blizzard warning issued in Buffalo since 93.... -20's tomorrow with wind chill....

I am enjoying this..weird huh.

[rowech]

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

It is fear of lawsuits. Nothing more and nothing less.

[PurdueBrad]

We're closed tomorrow as well, only 50% of our buses were able to start up today and they figure the same problem tomorrow.

Oh, and the fact that it's -13 degrees at 7 am tomorrow still when the kids are at the bus stops.

[General Mike]

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

Whatever the logic behind their decision, it's the right decision.

It's not just standing outside at the bus stop either. School buses have never been known to be the warmest place on earth, or the coolest place during the summer.

[tarcone]

Im guessing our schools will be closed all week. Roads still 100% snow covered. And 1-2 inches of snow wednesday night into thursday.

We are a rural district with hilly, curvy roads.

[General Mike]

Also, as far as closing schools go, it's better to cancel now and let parents plan for what is going to happen with their kids if the parents go to work, then wait til tomorrow morning.

[Thomkal]

And on the coldest night of the season, something appears to be wrong with our furnace. :(

[heybrad]

My flight back home to DC (through Chicago) tomorrow was just cancelled and they couldn't rebook me until Friday.

[Lathum]

My flight back home to DC (through Chicago) tomorrow was just cancelled and they couldn't rebook me until Friday.

Oof. Where are you now? May be better off renting a car.

[heybrad]

I'm on the opposite coast in SoCal. I guess there's worse places to be stranded.

[EagleFan]

Our weather this week is silly with the next day's low greater than the previous high: 39/27 -> 48/39 -> 59/55 -> 70/59

SI

F*CK YOU!!!!!

:eek:

:D

[tarcone]

And on the coldest night of the season, something appears to be wrong with our furnace. :(

Is it gas? Or electric?

[ISiddiqui]

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

Georgia doesn't have super cold winters usually, so why do these schools need to spend a good deal of money on great heating units? It's like saying that Canadian schools need to invest in the best air conditioning units in case of heatwave ;).

[Young Drachma]

I honestly think cancellation is just a cover for the poor heating units these schools have vs. really caring about kids at the school bus stop, but then again my job is making me quite the pessimist lately.

I think you're dead on here. No one wants kids sitting outside waiting for a bus in sub-zero temps. But then parents have to figure out what to do with them in the meanwhile. So I dunno. Tradeoffs.

[Fidatelo]

Just got back from a double header of sponge hockey. Feels like -37 with the wind-chill, nothing like spending an hour and a half outside in that. I wore 3 winter running shirts, a winter running jacket, and my jersey, along with running pants, a pair of long underwear, and wind breaker pants on top. My core was reasonably warm but my hands and especially feet are still thawing an hour later. Good times!?

[claphamsa]

Just got back from a double header of sponge hockey. Feels like -37 with the wind-chill, nothing like spending an hour and a half outside in that. I wore 3 winter running shirts, a winter running jacket, and my jersey, along with running pants, a pair of long underwear, and wind breaker pants on top. My core was reasonably warm but my hands and especially feet are still thawing an hour later. Good times!?

I had an outdoor hockey game tonight as well.... it was -2 with windchill at game time. breathing was hard (and not because im out of shape).

[EagleFan]

Right about now a move to San Diego sounds like a great idea...

[MacroGuru]

Driving bans in most surrounding cities, but not my area and downtown Buffalo, so guess who is at work today :mad:

[MrBug708]

I think you're dead on here. No one wants kids sitting outside waiting for a bus in sub-zero temps. But then parents have to figure out what to do with them in the meanwhile. So I dunno. Tradeoffs.

Drive them to school themselves?

[tarcone]

Electricity out here. A transformer blew. It's not too bad in the house yet. And the electricity is supposed to be back on in about a hour and a half.

[Thomkal]

Is it gas? Or electric?

electric, repairmen coming this afternoon. Thankfully we have lots of blankets until he comes :)

[cartman]

Looks like for the first time in my life I'm experiencing frozen water pipes. I have just a trickle of water coming out of the faucet when I turn one on.

[Castlerock]

Looks like for the first time in my life I'm experiencing frozen water pipes. I have just a trickle of water coming out of the faucet when I turn one on.
Leave the water running a trickle. The trickle will help stop the water from freezing completely. If it freezes completely, you may have pipes burst.

[cartman]

Just found out it wasn't an issue with my water pipes in the house. One of the mains broke down the street, and they are out there now fixing it.

[Thomkal]

Thankfully have heat here again, still pretty cold in the house but slowly will warm up.

[Warhammer]

Thankfully have heat here again, still pretty cold in the house but slowly will warm up.

Let me guess, circuit board?

[Thomkal]

Let me guess, circuit board?

No and my brain was clearly frozen last night/this morning. furnace was what came out of my mind when I should have said heating/air conditioning unit. Busted capacitor shorted out-so it was a quick and relatively painless financial fix.

[boberot]

First Blizzard warning issued in Buffalo since 93.... -20's tomorrow with wind chill....

I am enjoying this..weird huh.

This is getting extreme even by Buffalo standards.

Wind chills down here in the "southern tier" of Western NY -- just south of Buffalo -- flirted with -40 this morning and the crazy, well-defined bands of Lake Effect Snow could end up dumping up to three feet of snow south of the city by the time all is said and done.

Driving bans, major highways closed . . . . wow.

[sterlingice]

Selagoncy, Russia Weather Forecast from Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Selagoncy%2C+Russia)

(must read in head in bad Russian accent) Selagoncy, Russia laugh at your so-called winter. We had low of -66 but not all bad as we warm up to high of -65.

SI

[cartman]

Just saw an awesome tweet:

I don't have a drinking problem. I have a winter weather solution.

[Apathetic Lurker]

It is fear of lawsuits. Nothing more and nothing less.

Not in Buffalo...They always say dont send your kids to school if you think its too cold but they are going to be open.

[lungs]

Made it above zero today!

[TRO]

We used up 20% of our propane tank to heat our home in the last 5 days. We ran out around 7am this morning, thankfully, the refill truck showed up around 9.

[NobodyHere]

Dooooooooooooommmm! (http://www.nbcnews.com/business/dont-double-dip-velveeta-warns-shortage-2D11874498)

At least for us single guys.

[INDalltheway]

My car wont start. I hasn't been used since Saturday and I am due back at work tomorrow. Attempted to jump it for quite a while with no luck. This experience has jump started (pun sort of intended) my search for a new car.

[DaddyTorgo]

My car wont start. I hasn't been used since Saturday and I am due back at work tomorrow. Attempted to jump it for quite a while with no luck. This experience has jump started (pun sort of intended) my search for a new car.

My windows are frozen shut. I tried to lower them to swipe my card for the parking garage and they were stuck. Hadta open the door and get out to swipe myself in.

And I just discovered that my trusty, insulated North Face boots have a little rip in between the leather and the rubber that's exposing the insulation. Looks like they'll have to be replaced (which is fine, they're at least 7-8 years old at this point).

[Lathum]

My car wont start. I hasn't been used since Saturday and I am due back at work tomorrow. Attempted to jump it for quite a while with no luck. This experience has jump started (pun sort of intended) my search for a new car.

you sure it isn't your battery?

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you know all the ways to jump it?

Try leaving it hooked up for a while to the other car, then when you try and start your car have someone step on the gs of the other car and really rev it up while you try and start yours.

[JPhillips]

Take the battery to an auto parts store. They'll test it fro free. If the battery is dead, jumping won't help.

[Cork]

Made it above zero today!

It was a balmy 4 in the Madison area today.

[SackAttack]

My car wont start. I hasn't been used since Saturday and I am due back at work tomorrow. Attempted to jump it for quite a while with no luck. This experience has jump started (pun sort of intended) my search for a new car.

Yeah, I took mine out to put the fuel line antifreeze stuff in it on Friday or Saturday night and it's been so deadly cold out there I haven't been back outside since. Really hoping it starts tomorrow, especially since I just got a new battery LAST January.

[ColtCrazy]

So Indiana's DOE has said schools won't have to make up Monday or today. We are still out tomorrow…the country roads are still frozen over…simply too cold for them to clear up at all.

Normally, I get cabin fever but I've enjoyed being lazy and warm inside the house the past few days.

[claphamsa]

I love weather reports... high of 30, low of 24, currently.... 12!

at least there is no 25 mph wind today.

60 on Saturday.

[Matthean]

I finally went out yesterday and got sick. Joy.

[INDalltheway]

you sure it isn't your battery?

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you know all the ways to jump it?

Try leaving it hooked up for a while to the other car, then when you try and start your car have someone step on the gs of the other car and really rev it up while you try and start yours.

It very well could be the battery. It is probably 2 years old. I left it hooked up for quite a while and revved the other car up to get it going. I may try using Heet tonight to see if that is the problem. I'm not sure if it matters, but all of my lights, radio, etc work.

[JPhillips]

Take out the battery and get it tested. Any auto parts store will do that for free. Most of them will charge it for free if the battery will still hold a charge.